Safety & Preparedness

The safety and well being of our “Rattlers”, your children, is our #1 concern and highest priority.  We can never be complacent about safety issues or believe that “It can’t happen here”.  What we can do is make sure that we have policies and procedures in place to ensure the safety and well being of all students.

 

The California State Department of Education lists the components of a Safe School Environment as follows:

• Conveys an atmosphere in which members of the school community feel comfortable.
• Encourages open lines of communication among school personnel, students and parents and provides a well established system for students and parents to report problems.
• Clearly defines rules for student conduct and enforces them in a consistent and nondiscriminatory manner.
• Has discipline policies known by all, that cover issues such as violence, drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
• Supports proactive programs that help students learn to use alternatives to violence and enhance ethnic and cultural relations.
• Invites and sustains a visible parent presence on campus to promote safety.
• Ensures the buildings and grounds are well-maintained

An Emphasis on Character Values:

The implementation of Core Values within the curriculum and throughout the campus helps to promote good citizenship, has a positive impact on student behavior and develops an understanding and appreciation of the basic principles of character. We need to grow children who care about themselves and each other.  The following Core Values are introduced each month at Recognition Roundup and incorporated into the daily activities.  Several times each week students have their character cards pulled and are publicly recognized by the principal during morning announcements.  

 

Citizenship	Respect	Responsibility	Appreciation	Giving
Perseverance	Tolerance	Trustworthiness	Kindness	Friendship

 

Dealing with Bullying

 

What is bullying?

• Chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on others
• A pattern of unwanted purposeful written, verbal, nonverbal, or physical behavior
• Causing discomfort or humiliation 
• The offensive behavior is carried out repeatedly

 

Possible signs of bullying:

• The child is frightened or unwilling to go to school                                 
• The child claims to feel ill in the mornings
• The child’s schoolwork suffers
• The child come home regularly with clothes or books destroyed
• The child becomes withdrawn, lacks confidence

 

If you suspect that you child is being bullied:

• Ask your child directly.  Often children do not wish to tell their parents due to shame and embarrassment or fear that bullies will retaliate if they tell.  Look for sign such as: fear of going to school, lack of friends, missing belongings, torn clothing and/or increased fearfulness and anxiety.
• Work with the school immediately to make sure your child is safe, that effective consequences are applied toward the bully and that the monitoring at school is adequate.
• If your child is timid and lacks friends, try to arrange for your child to participate in positive social groups that meets his or her interests.

 

If your child is a bully:

• Reinforce with your child the need to resolve conflict in a non-aggressive way. 
• Spend positive time with your child every day doing something your child enjoys.
• Limit the amount of TV and monitor the kind of programs your child watches.
• Make a point of knowing where your child is and whom he or she is with.
• Encourage your child to resolve conflict in a positive manner in your home.
• Talk to your child’s teacher and school principal about the problem to together on a course of action.

 

What parents can do:

A child who has trouble defending himself or herself may feel like a victim, said Ava L. Siegler.  In her book, “What Should I Tell The Kids?” She notes these children usually have suppressed aggression and assertion, two problem parents can help combat.  Children need to be encouraged early to stand up for themselves.  This does not mean fighting.  Parents can help their child by rehearsing assertive behavior.  Parents can say, “ If Billy filtches your Oreo’s at lunch, remember to tell him," “No, that’s mine!” in a loud voice or when Jane butts in line, be sure to say, “You’re in my place.”

 

Parents can help by teaching children nonviolent, non-confrontational techniques.  Show your child how to use confident and appropriate body language.  A child who drops his or her gaze and cowers might as well paint a bull’s eye on his or her back for bullies.  Teach you child to harness the power of “Seinfeld.”  A round of humor can defuse a potentially explosive moment.

 

What Ranch Hills will do:

Any staff member who observes onsite bullying will intervene directly, however, If the bullying is not noticed by a staff member, when a student believes he is the victim of ongoing bullying, it is critical that the student reports it to a supervisor or teacher. The student, and if necessary, any witnesses to the bullying, will complete an incident report. Once it has been brought to the attention of the staff, an investigation will occur and progressive discipline will be implemented. The incident report will be handled by staff and the principal who will work to end the bullying behaviors. Parents will be contacted to help end the behavior. Go to http://www.boarddocs.com/ca/pomona/Board.nsf/Public# and input "bullying" under the search bar for additional PUSD board policies for bullying.